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Microsoft's "I'm a PC" Ad Airs

Here is a slant on it - maybe Apple should pick up. (No doubt it would be misunderstood.)

The guy who had the Maltese Falcon built (the largest sailboat...talking millions here) was talking along the lines of how his boat could sail itself...but he will never let it. Something due to the fact that he would not want a windows crash while at sea. ;)

Point is stability and reliability.
Honestly with all the issues with macbookpro batteries, powercords, and now screens over the years...reliability isnt to high on Apples list either.

Just because everyone is a PC doesnt mean its the best and that change isnt needed.

None the less the commercial will and does work its 'charm' and making people feel that they are being related to.

After all an add with some rich fellow saying they dont trust microsoft to drive their ship...though the point is well understood....would be missed by so many who would say, "oh some rich so and so..." and again, miss the whole implication about improving things. :)

As of now Mac and PC are equal...they are different, yes...but Im looking out for something that delivers past its outside sales pitch and shiny metallic surfaces. ;)

(Yes, I have used Macs for over a decade, and probably will continue to do so for the time being...but fan boy day is over...both platforms have their issues.) ;)

hint: more money from the consumer with less reliable features. :)

Peace

dAlen
 
In all honesty, while these ads are certainly better than the Jerry/Bill fiasco's, the I'm a PC ad is the sort of commercial that you get up from to go the kitchen and fix a sandwich until your TV show comes back on. There's nothing about it that makes you wanna watch it until it's done.
 
I was disappointed when I found out that "Phase II" was a purely reactionary campaign, but I must say that these ads were surprisingly good. Fresh, just funny enough, and even slightly heart-warming. Well-done M$.
 
I just don't see the comparisons... Apple makes computers and an OS that work together well. Apple's OS doesn't have to try and work with an ungodly number of different PC builds out there, it only has to work on an Apple built machine. Apple does what it does Apple's way, and they do it quite well. M$ isn't in the same market as Apple, so I don't see this as competition as much as jealousy??? :p
 
arn said:
I thought it was a pretty good "response" to Apple's ads.

arn
Click to expand...

perhaps, but a little late to the party. The one interesting thing is the obvious fact that Microsoft is bothered by Apples gains in the market.

I keep thinking PC politically correct.
 
tirzah said:
I just don't see the comparisons... Apple makes computers and an OS that work together well. Apple's OS doesn't have to try and work with an ungodly number of different PC builds out there, it only has to work on an Apple built machine. Apple does what it does Apple's way, and they do it quite well. M$ isn't in the same market as Apple, so I don't see this as competition as much as jealousy??? :p
Click to expand...


Good point


I've grown up with windows, had a really old school windows machine when I was younger, and every "PC" we have had has been replaced or fixed every year or less. We have had a macbook since january 2006, and have not had a single issue with it and it still runs just as fast as it did when I took it out of the box. I will never evr buy a PC again, and the macbook has more than paid for itself when it comes to not having to repair it or add memory etc.
 
adderz said:
That ad sucks.

All they say is Im a PC. So what can we conclude from that? a WIDE range of people are stupid ignorant idiots who wont explore the alternatives?
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They're trying to make Microsoft more human. Instead of the goliath juggernaut they are. Fact is, they have a bad reputation and it's going to take time to repair.
 
dmsgregg said:
MS basically acknowledged that Apple is doing a better job by acknowledging the Apple Ad campaign. Again, MS cannot come up with an original idea!
Click to expand...

Exactly, I mean these commercials aren't terrible, but they prove that Apple is really getting to them by directly acknowledging their ads. By acknowledging Apples ads, it just shows that the ads really affect MS. But yet again, MS fails at being original and creative. They shouldn't have referenced Apples campaign because it just reinforces how effective they are, and I think it should be apparent to consumers that MS is really starting to get quite nervous about Apple, this ad is like a natural defense mechanism instead of being a counterattack.

Thats what the problem with this campaign is, they aren't showing anybody that MS's the right choice or that they are the better OS, they are just defending themselves, when they should for once be original and create an ad that will get Apple sweating. They also don't do anything to try and sell their products strengths, they just reinforce the fact that they are the leader and everybody has one almost by default.

LOL I mean MS thinks that they can just pay their way through everything now. Just because they paid celebs to be in the ads they think people will buy into it. I highly doubt those celebs are being true anyway, most of them probably have some kind of a Mac since they are famous and have the money to spend on one and Macs are like a status symbol now. Plus, people like Pharrell, use Macs almost by default for Music Production.
 
bassproguy07 said:
Good point


I've grown up with windows, had a really old school windows machine when I was younger, and every "PC" we have had has been replaced or fixed every year or less. We have had a macbook since january 2006, and have not had a single issue with it and it still runs just as fast as it did when I took it out of the box. I will never evr buy a PC again, and the macbook has more than paid for itself when it comes to not having to repair it or add memory etc.
Click to expand...

Yea thats whats great about Apple. I've had an iMac G3 since 1999, and that thing still runs 10.3 perfect. I actually used that thing for 5 years before I bought a new comp.
 
I haven't read all 15 pages so i dont know if anyone has said the same thing as me, but all you people responding saying its a good response to apple is stupid. the ad is targeting mac saying they made a stereotype out of PC? well im not sure if you noticed but apple in its ads doesnt stand there saying "PC users wear glasses, PC users are geeks. they actual are pointing out window's flaws in the Im a Mac ads. Microsoft is waisting their money on stupid pointless ad's.
 
The ads seems good. They are sending the message that Apple was personally attacking people even though the PC guy was to portray the functions of Windows and not the people who use it. That may actually be a good strategy, so when people watch the Mac ads they may now think they are personally being attacked. Next ad they'll probably call Mac users elitists.

Sadly though, the Mac ads while being funny actually tell you about the product. Like the Seinfeld ads, Microsoft is choosing to appeal to people by connection through personal identity. Sort of reminds me another type of ad wars going on right now in US politics...
 
I didn't think it was terrible, although I thought it probably was a bit counterproductive to have Bill Gates in there... but I think they have made a valid point, that all the people in the ad use PCs to do the things that matter to them, and isn't that why people buy computers, rather than to be labelled as a "Mac" or a "PC".
 
JRomero said:
It's a nice response to Apple's ads, but it lacks the elegance and wit that Apple Ads have.
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yeah i agree. good idea, but poorly executed. when the pc says "i'm a pc," it's kinda awkward because there's no familiar apple chime in there lol

i can't wait to see what apple has in response.
 
It's somewhat of a failure.

Apple never stereotyped PC users. In fact, Apple didn't really say anything about PC users. Hodgman and Long are personifications of computers, not computer users. It's about the product, not the users.

The logical reaction to this MS commercial is "Sure, you have some nice users but your product still sucks".

Microsoft's campaign is like a Republican presidential campaign: "Our product is terrible, but we want to make you think the other guy called you a loser".
 
arn said:
I thought it was a pretty good "response" to Apple's ads.

arn
Click to expand...

haha, yea. But I'd like to see Apple's response by filming a similar commercial:
I'm a PC - and I crash a lot
I'm a PC - I get BSODs
I'm....M....a Pppp......... I'm a PC - I was juse forced restarted.
I'm a PC - Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM
etc.

That'd be kinda fun.
Oh, no offense. I thought the ad was pretty good and had a point. Windows is everywhere.
 
the commercial was decent.

There are two ways microsoft could have responded to the threat they are feeling: Proactively or reactively.

unfortunately, this commercial is extremely reactive. PC's dominate, and the best thing for them to do is to pretty much ignore the existence of macs. This commercial just signifies that Apple is getting into microsoft's head.

a proactive strategy would be to improvise on vista, and focus and their own software. They need to focus on innovation, and doing their own thing. If they play apple's game, they are going to lose.
 
hmphh

it was pretty good actually. it will be hard to spin back from this one. Since they turned the pc thing into hey we're all pc's thing. It was nicely done. Justin Long better start looking for another job
 
disaster

What a screw up. First they come out with the Mohave ads admitting that everyone thinks Vista is a pile of poo. Note - they never talk about Vista in these ads just show some people going oh and ahh over a demo. (message it doesn't suck as much as you think)

1 Then a campaign that admits Apple is a threat to Micro$oft,

2 That they really have no original ideals so we'll just react to Apple's ads

3 There products suck so bad they won't mention them in our ads they just keep hoping you'll use them cause everyone else is ! Which might actually work if you hadn't undermined that with 1 and 2.

This is Microsoft publicly admitting the are no longer the leaders and have to react and protect themselves from APPLE.

Never base an ad campain on the premise that we used to suck but were better now.
 
I love OS X and the Mac computer line, but I have to say that I like this commercial. It's slightly adorable, and remains positive with it message of being widespread without bashing Macs at all. I know there will be many here quick to criticize anything coming from Microsoft, but this one deserves brownie points. Good job.
 
It didn't blatantly attack it's competition. It just painted a different picture. For that it does it's job well.
 
arn said:
I thought it was a pretty good "response" to Apple's ads.

arn
Click to expand...

Arn, I usually agree with you but to me it seems like MS continues to miss the point (and genius) of Apple's ads. That is, that they specifically talk about the machines and what they do. MS continues to just shout "HEY LOOK AT US, WE'RE GREAT!" like they are some sort of geek Tony the Tiger, when in fact it is Apple who is actually giving the why to that statement.

More fail from MS.
 
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